Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has raised serious concerns over what he described as the alleged alteration and forgery of Nigerian laws, warning that the situation threatens the foundation of constitutional governance in the country.
Obi accused the Federal Government of allowing a system where laws passed by the National Assembly are allegedly changed before being published and enforced.
He said this development represents a dangerous shift from past issues of padded budgets to a new era where the integrity of Nigeria’s laws is now in question.
The former Anambra State governor made the allegations in a statement titled “Migrating from Padded Budgets to Forged Laws,” which he shared on his official X handle on Saturday.
In the statement, Obi claimed there are clear and documented differences between bills approved by lawmakers and the versions eventually released as law by the executive arm of government.
According to him, the issue is not a minor administrative lapse but a major constitutional problem that reflects deep-rooted institutional decay. He warned that such actions undermine public trust, weaken democracy, and negatively affect citizens’ rights.
Obi stated that Nigeria appears to have moved beyond financial manipulations in budgeting to a more alarming practice where laws are allegedly altered after legislative approval.
He said this development directly affects taxpayers, the justice system, and the rule of law.
He further accused the Presidency of maintaining silence over allegations that involve possible forgery, abuse of process, and institutional sabotage.
Obi questioned why such a serious matter has not been addressed openly, especially given its implications for governance and accountability.
In his words, he said:
“Our national shame continues to unfold, evident in the decisions made by our leaders, even at the highest levels of government. This shame is highlighted by a deeply troubling—and frankly unacceptable—issue: the documented discrepancies between what the legislature passed and what was ultimately published as law by the executive. This is not merely an administrative oversight; it is a serious matter that strikes at the core of constitutional governance and reveals the extent of our institutional decay.”
Obi also expressed concern over what he described as newly introduced enforcement powers that were never approved by the House of Representatives. These include a mandatory 20 per cent deposit before appeals can be heard, asset sales without proper judicial oversight, and the granting of arrest powers to tax authorities.
He warned that such provisions, if truly not passed by lawmakers, amount to a serious violation of democratic processes and could be used to intimidate citizens.
“We have transitioned from a Nigeria where budgets are padded to one where laws are forged—changes that impact taxpayers’ rights and, most importantly, access to justice,” Obi said.
The former governor stressed the need for full transparency, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know exactly what was passed by the National Assembly, what was signed into law, and what is currently being enforced.
He added that citizens cannot continue to be burdened with higher taxes while confidence in governance continues to erode.
“All of this must be made public. Nigerians need to understand what was signed, what was passed, and what was formally recorded. We cannot continue to ask citizens to pay more taxes while trust in governance collapses,” he stated.
Obi concluded by calling for leadership that respects due process, accountability, and the rule of law, warning that no nation can develop under a system where laws are allegedly forged and critical questions are met with silence.